Murakamania Midnight Release Party at Brazos Bookstore on Monday, August 11

Haruki Murakami fans may want to consider taking a cat nap on Monday, August 11, in advance of Brazos Bookstore's Murakamania Midnight Release Par-tay [emphasis added], which kicks off at 10 p.m.

Stop in to talk about what you talk about when you talk about running with other Murakami fans, and walk away with a one-of-a-kind, Brazos Bookstore-designed original Murakami-themed coloring book--"What I Talk About When I Talk About Coloring." At the stroke of midnight, copies of "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" will go on sale, but beware--the store strongly encourages pre-ordering, in anticipation of a sell-out.

In addition to the coloring book, other Murakami-inspired activities include Pin the Kafka on the Shore!, The Wild Sheep Count!, and The Wind-Up Bird Pinata! Beverages will be provided by the kind folks at St. Arnold's Brewery, and you can snack on Japanese-Mexican fusion from the Muiishi Makirritos food truck to keep up your strength straight through midnight.

Brazos Bookstore's manager Jeremy Ellis hopes this will bring new fans together with longtime Murakami-lovers. Mixing food, beer, and Murakami seemed like a good way to encourage everyone to show up and show their love for "the greatest living Japaense author. Period." "Murakami has a foreign point-of-view that's unique culturally," explained Ellis. "At the same time, he embraces the West, and pop culture. Our customers buy Murakami like candy!" Ellis credits his buyer, Keaton, with the coloring book idea--inspired by Murakami's new title (colorless), and named for the 2008 title, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running."

With only a limited number of signed copies of Murakami's new novel, Brazos Bookstore Event Coordinator Ben Rybeck is urging fans to reserve their copies now. "A limited number of signed copies are available only at Monday's party," said Ben. "I'm looking forward to meeting fellow Murakami fans, and to making this the biggest Murakami book release party in the country!"

This party has--as Stefon might say--everything: Japanese literature, a store-original coloring book, food, cocktails, and more sly, Murakami-themed inside jokes than you can shake a crayon at. You can reserve your copy of Murakami's "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage" ($25.95)--and your copy of Brazos' exclusive "What I Talk About When I Talk About Coloring"--online through the store's website.